Tourism for All: SpainForAll Advisory Committee Meets in Valencia to Drive Industry Inclusion
The Spanish Tourist Office (UK) has reinforced its commitment to building a more inclusive travel sector by hosting its second overseas SpainforAll accessibility advisory summit in Valencia.
Under the leadership of Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK), the summit united 10 advisory board members to share best practices and develop tangible actions to champion industry inclusivity.
Officially opened by local authorities, including Paula Llobet, Councillor for Tourism, Innovation and Investment, and José Manuel Camarero, Regional Vice-Minister for Tourism, the event focused on building cross-sector partnerships between local administration, tourism and transportation representatives, disability working groups, and law enforcement.
Reflecting on the collaborative milestone, Manuel Butler, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK), stated:
“It has been an honour to bring this initiative to Valencia and to learn from a city and region so unwaveringly focused on creating a destination where no one is left behind. We believe travel is a fundamental human right. Seeing Valencia place accessibility at the very heart of its strategy, deeply respecting the autonomy and independence of both residents and visitors, presents a truly inspiring model.
“This Advisory Board Summit on Accessibility was created as part of our SpainforAll campaign, which aims to eliminate discrimination, champion diversity, and elevate accessibility standards across the entire travel sector. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Valencia authorities, local tourism representatives, accessibility working groups and everyone who made this event possible, as well as the 10 advisory board members who joined us in Valencia to exchange vital insights and discuss tangible next steps for inclusive travel.”
Recognised as the winner of the 2026 Fitur4All ‘Inclusive National Destination’ and a runner-up at the EU Access City Awards, Valencia has embedded accessibility throughout its regional planning. During the summit, advisory members experienced the city's remarkable diversity from its Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque Cathedral to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences witnessing firsthand an ecosystem where physical, digital, cognitive, and sensory inclusion are woven directly into public infrastructure.
Accessible Coastal and Cultural Tourism
A major highlight of Valencia's strategy is its world-class coast. The beaches of La Malvarrosa, Cabanyal, Pinedo, El Saler, and El Perellonet offer free accessibility facilities, including adapted walkways, amphibious wheelchairs, hoists, and seasonal assisted bathing programmes. Furthermore, a pioneering European pilot project is currently underway on El Cabanyal Beach to test an ergonomic seat for amphibious wheelchairs, specifically designed to improve water-access comfort and safety for individuals with cerebral palsy. The focus extends to the wider Valencia Region with over 600km of coastline and 87 accessible beaches spread across its three provinces; 27 in Alicante, 24 in Castellon and 36 Valencia.
This inclusive philosophy similarly transforms Valencia's major cultural events. 'Las Fallas', the city’s world-famous March festival and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event, has introduced groundbreaking accessibility tools developed by the Valencia City Council and Visit Valencia. Nearly 70 monument sites now integrate inclusive QR and NaviLens codes, granting immediate access to descriptive audio guides, sign language videos, and Easy Read formats. The physical event footprint has also been enhanced with dedicated reduced-mobility viewing areas and low-sensory "calm hours" tailored for individuals with neurological conditions.
Green Routes and Future Strategies
The city's award-winning climate infrastructure takes centre stage via its newly expanded 'Green Routes' (Rutas Verdes), including the iconic 9-kilometre Turia Gardens pathway winding through the centre of the city in a former riverbed cleverly repurposed after flooding back in the 1950s. Ideal for wheelchair users due to its flat, stable terrain, the route is undergoing a comprehensive technical audit by Spanish disability organisation Impulsa Igualdad to eliminate minor path irregularities. Parallel to this infrastructure work, multi-sensory digital resources, including pictogram systems and audio guides, have been deployed to make the park's landmarks accessible to all.
On a regional scale, the ‘La Comunitat Valenciana, també per a tu’ (Valencia Regiom, also for you) initiative mirrors this success, offering 26 fully accessible tourism routes across the wider territory.
Connecting these initiatives is Valencia’s seamless public transportation network, offering one of Europe’s most barrier-free transit experiences. The urban bus fleet is 100% accessible with low-floor entries and automated ramps, while the metro and tram networks feature step-free station access and tactile paving.
Looking forward, Valencia is advancing its strategy by sustaining its tourism accessibility working group, delivering industry-wide training, and preparing the launch of 12 specialised infographics to provide tourism professionals with actionable tools.
Concurrently, the SpainforAll UK working group is actively developing best practice accessibility information standards for the hotel sector, ensuring guests can find accurate, detailed, and independent data without needing to contact hotels directly for basic needs.
Advisory Board Participants at the Valencia Summit included:
Ben Kirby, Enable Holidays
Paula Hansen, World Accessible Holidays
Jason Winter, Impact Manager, TTG Media
Paula Sande, Impulsa Igualdad / Tur4All
Atlyn Forde, Founder of C-Inclusively CIC and the Inclusive Travel Forum
Yousif Nur, JourneyEase (Luxury Travel for Neurodivergent Minds)
Monica Molina, DEI Consultant
Jonathan Fletcher, The Wheelie Good Travel Company
Kate McWilliams, LOTUS / Spanish Tourist Office (agency)
Jesús Ruiz, Spanish Tourist Office (UK)
For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk.